I really love Cymbidiums and the fragrance is heavenly yet I have only few of these orchid plants since I have a small space as a window sill grower in an apartment in Manhattan. The temperature dropped a couple of months ago to 70’s in the day and 50’s at night that triggered it to give me two spikes….I was surprised for the early bloom=I was expecting this to flower in the middle of winter.
This get shaded medium light in the east facing window of the kitchen in winter and outdoors spring, summer and fall. I have to look at the color of the leaves to get the right lighting=the apple green tinges is best than dark green.
This is watered every three days in summer and weekly in winter, I don’t give this drastic winter rest. I flush this once a month for salt/fertilizer deposits = just notice the leaves if it has brown tips since it is a telltale sign that there roots have accumulated salt deposits=if the deposits accumulate the leaves turn black and die.
This orchid plant is cold tolerant than some other hybrids that need an extended period of cold to provoke a bloom, while the miniatures aren't quite as dependent on cold weather to bloom. This can briefly withstand freezing temperatures but prolonged exposure to frost will kill this. Nights down to 40F are fine. On the other hand, this can also withstand NY summer heat wave without wilting, as most Cymbidiums are suited to the temperate regions of Asia where there is considerable variation in seasonal and day/night temperatures.
This is in a Cymbidium media mix I got online and it has not been repotted for two years in a six inch pot and it is still fit. Maybe next year....This stands two and a half feet with three old bulbs with no leaves, two mature bulbs and two new bulbs growing.
I feed this k-lite fertilizer twice a month only with seaweed mix, and lessen nitrogen by the end of summer to trigger flowering or else I will just keep on getting new bulbs.
